...You know, the one you formulated by throwing at a dart board years ago....

It wasn't by chance (dart throw); it was all because Jacoby went to a liberal left coast university, was all hyped up by top brass, took away his beloved Coco's job, and then had the audacity to play great when softy was complaining about him having the job over Coco. The fact that he proved softy wrong early in his career cemented the hatred and vitriol for good.

Actually, OSU(Oregon State University), where Ellsbury went, is considered the conservative university out here as compared to UO(University of Oregon).

Those Ducks are flat out communists aren't they! But they can play football!

Be nice...don't get me going...LOL. Actually, the baskeball team didn't do too bad either.

It's like watching the hundred yard dash from the top row of the stadium without a view of the starting line and telling your friend that runner X got a poor jump because he wasn't leaning forward enough.

You said your peace. no need to keep going on about it. Agree to disagree and move on.

My father-in-law is fine, I'm actually taking a couple adys off and we have an agency handling him for the weekend, thanks for asking.

My older son's first high school varsity game, he was playing centerfield, he was a catcher but got called up for an injury to the starter, and a line drive was hit right at him. He broke in and the ball sailed over his head and rolled forever. The hitter was standing at home by the time Charlie caught up with the ball. He was back catching the next game and became a central Mass all-star there by his senior year. Point of the story, you are correct; the ball hit right at you is the most difficult to judge.

Hey jid,

I enjoyed your ST analysis the last month or so. Nothing like someone who is live and in person being able to see and hear things we cant on the other side of the tv screen.

Good 1st series for our boys in NY. I think Dempster was being squeezed a little last night, but all in all pitched a decent game. On to the over rated (IMO) Toronto Blue Jays. Farrell should be wearing a hard hat tonight me thinks.

...You know, the one you formulated by throwing at a dart board years ago....

It wasn't by chance (dart throw); it was all because Jacoby went to a liberal left coast university, was all hyped up by top brass, took away his beloved Coco's job, and then had the audacity to play great when softy was complaining about him having the job over Coco. The fact that he proved softy wrong early in his career cemented the hatred and vitriol for good.

Actually, OSU(Oregon State University), where Ellsbury went, is considered the conservative university out here as compared to UO(University of Oregon).

Those Ducks are flat out communists aren't they! But they can play football!

Be nice...don't get me going...LOL. Actually, the baskeball team didn't do too bad either.

I was just kidding Amp. No ill will intended. I love Oregon. Trees and fresh air everywhere. Cities hard to find. I like that!

...You know, the one you formulated by throwing at a dart board years ago....

It wasn't by chance (dart throw); it was all because Jacoby went to a liberal left coast university, was all hyped up by top brass, took away his beloved Coco's job, and then had the audacity to play great when softy was complaining about him having the job over Coco. The fact that he proved softy wrong early in his career cemented the hatred and vitriol for good.

Actually, OSU(Oregon State University), where Ellsbury went, is considered the conservative university out here as compared to UO(University of Oregon).

Those Ducks are flat out communists aren't they! But they can play football!

Be nice...don't get me going...LOL. Actually, the baskeball team didn't do too bad either.

I was just kidding Amp. No ill will intended. I love Oregon. Trees and fresh air everywhere. Cities hard to find. I like that!

Honestly, southern Oregon is the best kept secret in the country. I don't remember the last time we locked our doors...half the amount of rain Portland gets...rarely gets to freezing in the winter...almost zero humidity, no mosquito's, clean rivers, wildlife, gardens etc., etc. I could go on and on. If we want big-time shopping or eateries, we'll drive an hour up the road to Eugene.

...You know, the one you formulated by throwing at a dart board years ago....

It wasn't by chance (dart throw); it was all because Jacoby went to a liberal left coast university, was all hyped up by top brass, took away his beloved Coco's job, and then had the audacity to play great when softy was complaining about him having the job over Coco. The fact that he proved softy wrong early in his career cemented the hatred and vitriol for good.

Actually, OSU(Oregon State University), where Ellsbury went, is considered the conservative university out here as compared to UO(University of Oregon).

Those Ducks are flat out communists aren't they! But they can play football!

Be nice...don't get me going...LOL. Actually, the baskeball team didn't do too bad either.

I was just kidding Amp. No ill will intended. I love Oregon. Trees and fresh air everywhere. Cities hard to find. I like that!

Honestly, southern Oregon is the best kept secret in the country. I don't remember the last time we locked our doors...half the amount of rain Portland gets...rarely gets to freezing in the winter...almost zero humidity, no mosquito's, clean rivers, wildlife, gardens etc., etc. I could go on and on. If we want big-time shopping or eateries, we'll drive an hour up the road to Eugene.

You should invite Softlaw out there to visit the Indian reservation that Jake lived on. Isn't Softlaw Corporation located in Eugene? What do the locales think of those from the Reservation? Does it have an effect on your tax base?

I love everyone...taxes are too high everywhere. There's a 7-Feather Indian run casino nearby. So, as far as I know, everyone is happy.

...You know, the one you formulated by throwing at a dart board years ago....

It wasn't by chance (dart throw); it was all because Jacoby went to a liberal left coast university, was all hyped up by top brass, took away his beloved Coco's job, and then had the audacity to play great when softy was complaining about him having the job over Coco. The fact that he proved softy wrong early in his career cemented the hatred and vitriol for good.

Actually, OSU(Oregon State University), where Ellsbury went, is considered the conservative university out here as compared to UO(University of Oregon).

To softy, all universities are liberal propaganda institutions and anything on the "left coast" is probably worse.

I've been gone for a couple days, traveling back home, and it seems as if I never left. In fact, it looks like someone turned the clock back five years because here is Softy ranting against Ellsbury just like the good old days. Someone else mentioned this earlier, but I would love to see Ells resign here, for many years, have a great career, AND continue to read Softy explain how much slower he's gotten and how badly he breaks on balls, and my all-time favorite, how his reverse-pivot makes him a fourth outfielder profile at best.

And if having Softy back to bash Ells isn't enough, we get the new guy, TV guy in fact, to argue, discredit and simply annoy the regulars here. Who are you and what is your point?

Amp great to see you back! I've played and coached this game for many years and there are instincts, for lack of a better term, that can not be taught. They can be improved upon with time and repetition, but many people don't have the innate ability to run in one direction while looking over their shoulder in another for a 2 1/2 inch sphere that is 300 feet away from them. I spent most of my playing life as a catcher, but I remember when my dad first converted me from shortstop to catcher (our catcher had broken his arm on our little-league team 55 years or so ago) he said he hated to do it because I was the only player he had who knew where the ball was going to be hit and was already moving in that direction before the batter made contact. Later in life as I played more beer-belly softball games I played the outfield and I could do the same thing. No idea how or why, just instinct. Of course I needed the instincts to make up for my lack of athleticiscm relative to these MLB level players.

Now great athletes like Ellsbury may not, in fact I know he does not, have that instinct, but with practice and repetition and experience AND with great speed, they can overcome that split second of indecision that JD Drew, Edmunds, Paul Blair and many other great outfielders, including young Jackie Bradley, seem to possess.

We're off to our best start in years, in spite of Andy Pettite, why can't we all just enjoy it?

Do you guys like this year's idea of AL and NL teams playing each other randomly?

The Angels opened the season at Cincinati and the Royals are now playing the Phillies.

On Sept 24th and 25th, the Red Sox go to Colorado to play the Rockies. Those two games might get snowed out. LOL

i like it a lot. in fact, AL and NL don't play each other enough

We should play a 2 game home and 2 game away against all non division teams. That leaves 62 vs our own div (about 15 games total vs each team).

i like it. the more interleague games the more the numbers are "normalized" when comparing AL stats VS NL stats. it also will give you a better picture of what to expect from a guy when switching leagues

Two comments..1. Does anyone besides me find it unusual that Ortiz's injury went from bad(I'm tempted to use the term 'chronic') to suddenly healing up to stat running etc. all coincidentally happening at the end of spring training? It almost makes me wonder if, due to his superstar, face-of-the-franchise image, that a pass was given to him to allow the total skipping of spring training. If so, it doesn't really matter to me.

OK, call me crazy or on the verge of insanity. I've been called worse before...laugh

2. I love the way Iggy is playing, but I hope JF reminds him that when a sacrifice is called for, it's what it is...a sacrifice. Let the world know that you're going to bunt..get set up etc. When a bunt is called for under these circumstances, the intent is to move the player/s along. Getting a hit is secondary.

Does anyone besides me find it unusual that Ortiz's injury went from bad(I'm tempted to use the term 'chronic') to suddenly healing up to stat running etc. all coincidentally happening at the end of spring training? It almost makes me wonder if, due to his superstar, face-of-the-franchise image, that a pass was given to him to allow the total skipping of spring training. If so, it doesn't really matter to me.

Ortiz has never been one to skimp out of playing. he always wants to be out on the field.. he definitely wouldn't pass up starting out the season in NY against our rivals, with that short right field porch to pad his season opening numbers.....

Does anyone besides me find it unusual that Ortiz's injury went from bad(I'm tempted to use the term 'chronic') to suddenly healing up to stat running etc. all coincidentally happening at the end of spring training? It almost makes me wonder if, due to his superstar, face-of-the-franchise image, that a pass was given to him to allow the total skipping of spring training. If so, it doesn't really matter to me.

Ortiz has never been one to skimp out of playing. he always wants to be out on the field.. he definitely wouldn't pass up starting out the season in NY against our rivals, with that short right field porch to pad his season opening numbers.....

We should play a 2 game home and 2 game away against all non division teams. That leaves 62 vs our own div (about 15 games total vs each team).

i like it. the more interleague games the more the numbers are "normalized" when comparing AL stats VS NL stats. it also will give you a better picture of what to expect from a guy when switching leagues

The 2 game series might be problematic, but if you group them geographically to minimize travel, it might work OK, otherwise they could play 4 away one year and 4 home the next.

Iggy's last play before he was taken out was pretty awesome. and he did it with a bum arm. No way drew makes that play. So far we have 2 plays over 4 games. It sucks he got hurt but i don't think we win that game without the help of Neck.

I just spent some time looking at the situation on the farm, catching up on things. Look closely and you can see a lot of starting pitching talent:

Webster

DeLarosa

Barnes

Ranaudo

Workman

Owens

Johnson

I'm not even considering Hernandez and others who absolutely can contribute as well. That's 6 guys right there who all have a solid shot at being mlb level starters. We have not had a farm situation like that in a very long time, especially in regard to pitching. I look at teams like SF and see that pitching alone has carried that team to 2 world championships recently. The fact that we have some outstanding young arms on the farm really is a good indicator of future success. I think all these guys are going to emerge well this year. We haven't heard the last of Ranaudo and Workman. We sometimes don't think about them but they are in the mix also.

We also have some great young bullpen prospects. Montas, Celestino and others. Alex Wilson. We are well stocked there also, particularly down in the lower levels.

They are batting Linares 8th in AAA. The guy gets no respect folks. For whatever reason. I would think at this point they would consider trading him. They don't seem to want to give him a real shot.

I just spent some time looking at the situation on the farm, catching up on things. Look closely and you can see a lot of starting pitching talent:

Webster

DeLarosa

Barnes

Ranaudo

Workman

Owens

Johnson

I'm not even considering Hernandez and others who absolutely can contribute as well. That's 6 guys right there who all have a solid shot at being mlb level starters. We have not had a farm situation like that in a very long time, especially in regard to pitching. I look at teams like SF and see that pitching alone has carried that team to 2 world championships recently. The fact that we have some outstanding young arms on the farm really is a good indicator of future success. I think all these guys are going to emerge well this year. We haven't heard the last of Ranaudo and Workman. We sometimes don't think about them but they are in the mix also.

We also have some great young bullpen prospects. Montas, Celestino and others. Alex Wilson. We are well stocked there also, particularly down in the lower levels.

They are batting Linares 8th in AAA. The guy gets no respect folks. For whatever reason. I would think at this point they would consider trading him. They don't seem to want to give him a real shot.

Adding Webster and DLR last summer really boosted our pitching prospect outlook from a higher point than it had been for a long time beforehand. There are alos several other pitchers who may join this list after this season.

On Linares, I don't get it either. He'd probably be playing on some teams right now, so maybe a trade is likely at some point. I wonder where Ben has him on the depth chart for each OF position or DH. He may not even be the next guy in line!

Linares batting 8th in Pawtucket? I don't get it. The guy looks in some ways to be right there with Nava / Sweeney etc...

I can only speculate and that is probably not even appropriate since I know nothing really as to why. I wonder if they don't see him receptive to revising his approach maybe? Possibly not committing to conditioning to the level they want. Is he happy as heck with the money he is already making, compared to the $10 a month salary in Cuba and just not motivated?

Complete speculation on my part. No accusations as I do not know. I just don't get why he is so far down on the list. He is deep injury depth. That appears to be all.